Patient Educational Conference Set on Diagnosis, Treatment, Integrative Medicine and New Therapies for Brain Tumors

Neurosurgeon Keith L. Black and other treatment and research leaders will present information for free for patients, families on Saturday, May 14 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Los Angeles - May 3, 2011 - Patients, families and caregivers are invited to attend an educational conference covering many aspects of brain tumors May 14 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

The free, Saturday program, “Outsmarting Brain Tumors,” will feature presentations by Keith L. Black, MD, chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery, and other treatment and research experts. The morning session will include:

Brain tumor 101

Role of radiation therapy

Chemotherapy and treatments

Surgical options

New and promising research

Cancer vaccines and stem cell therapies

Attendees may choose from three afternoon breakout sessions.

Breakout Session A will cover:

Introduction to personalized medicine

Acupuncture and integrative medicine support for brain tumor treatment

Nutritional support for cancer treatment

Mental imagery for wellness

Anatomy and functions of the brain

Imaging: Functional MRI, MR spectroscopy, CT

Too much information: Navigating clinical trials, the Internet and other hazards of the Information Age

Breakout Session B will explore:

Acoustic neuromas

Pituitary tumors

Low-grade gliomas

High-grade gliomas

Gamma Knife treatment

Brain tumors and the eye

In Breakout Session C – the Consultants’ Corner – doctors will meet individually with patients. First come, first served reservations will be available at check-in; anyone interested should bring scans and medical documentation for review.

Speakers will include:

Black, chairman and professor in Cedars-Sinai’s Department of Neurosurgery, director of the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, director of the Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. Brain Tumor Center, and the Ruth and Lawrence Harvey Chair in Neuroscience

John S. Yu, MD, director of Surgical Neuro-oncology at Cedars-Sinai, medical director of the Brain Tumor Center, neurosurgical director of the Gamma Knife Program, and professor and vice chairman in the Department of Neurosurgery

Swaraj Bose, MD, associate professor of ophthalmology and neurology at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine

The conference, supported by Cancer Support Community, National Brain Tumor Society, the Musella Foundation and The Brad Kaminsky Foundation, will run from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at Cedars-Sinai’s Harvey Morse Auditorium, Plaza Level, South Tower, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. The event, lunch and parking are free but seating is limited and registration is required. For more information or to register, visit www.cedars-sinai.edu/neuroptconf or call 1-800-CEDARS-1 (1-800-233-2771).